Triggering control of audio for walk-around characters

US9483115B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Disney Enterprises, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Holger Irmler · West Hollywood, US
• Brent David Strong · Burbank, US
• Asa K. Kalama · Burbank, US
• Raymond J. Scanlon · Burbank, US
• Cory J. Rouse · Calabasas, US
• Renee Johnson · Brockton, US
• Tina Y. Shioji · Long Beach, US
• Abigail F. Tamayo · Walnut, US
• David Frederick Beaudry · West Hollywood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 31, 2013
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2016
• Expiry date: May 25, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/013
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A control system for selectively operating a sound system provided in a walk-around character costume. e.g., to play audio files in an order defined by a dialog tree that can be navigated by a performer wearing the costume. The control system includes a trigger mechanism provided in the costume operable by a performer wearing the costume to generate and transmit at least one trigger signal to navigate through a dialog tree. A controller receives the trigger signal and transmits a control signal causing the sound system to playback pre-recorded dialog. The system includes a trigger processing module run by the controller for processing the trigger signal and, in response to such processing, for navigating pre-recorded audio for a show to select the set of pre-recorded dialog. The trigger mechanism includes a first and a second pressure sensor in a thumb and index finger of a glove of the costume.